Lake sheriff to take over struggling animal services

June 10, 2014|By Erica Rodriguez, Orlando Sentinel

Lake County commissioners on Tuesday unanimously agreed to relinquish control of the struggling Animal Services department to Sheriff Gary Borders, who said he plans to use inmate labor to help cut down expenses.

Borders told commissioners he wants to reduce euthanasia at the animal shelter, hire an animal-rescue coordinator to help with pet adoptions and create a mobile clinic to spay and neuter pets.

The shelter has faced criticism from animal advocates who contend the department should cut down on animal killings. The shelter has reduced its kill rate from 6,447 dogs and cats killed in the 2008-2009 fiscal year to 3,606 in the 2012-13 fiscal year. Two shelter directors within the last year quit amid the criticism.

Borders said he won't ask for more cash to run the department, which has a $1.4 million budget and 26 employees. The details of the transition still need to be worked out in a formal agreement, but is expected to take effect by Oct. 1, the start of the 2014-15 fiscal year.